Machine for applying heat-sealing or other adhesive tabs or labels to fabric and the like



Aug. 23, 1949. c. w. ADSHEAD 2,479,891

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HEAT-SEALING OR OTHER ADHESIVE TABS OR LABELS TQ FABRIC AND THE LIKE Filed July 29, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lunm m mvroe CAAEMS MIADSHEAD ATTOf/VEV'S Aug. 23, 1949. c. w. ADSHEAD 2,479,891

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HEAT-SEALING OR OTHER ADHESIVE TABS 0R LABELS TO FABRIC AND THE LIKE Filed July 29, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I mm WW3;

Aug. 23, 1949. c. w. ADSHEAD 2,479,891

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HEAT-SEALING OR OTHER ADHESIVE TABS OR LABELS TO FABRIC AND THE LIKE Filed July 29, 1947 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 05 103 a /04 4am mmwroe 0.6642155 HADfiff/ID Patented Aug. 23, 194 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING HEAT-SEALING OR OTHER ADHESIVE TABS OR LABELS TO FABRIC AND THE LIKE Application July 29, 1947, Serial No. 764,372 In Great Britain June 13, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires June 13, 1966 This invention rel-ates to improvements in machines for applying heat-sealing or other adhesive tabs or labels to fabric and the like and deals particularly with the case in which the adhesive tabs form detachable units of a web on a reel or spool.

There is already in use a type of adhesive tab which is of particular service in laundry, dyeing. and cleaning processes because the adhesive tab is heat-scalable to fabric, is not removed by such processes, and can be supplied in a web on a reel having transverse perforations or like easytearing lines to facilitate detachmentof the successive tabs from such web.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for applying tabs of the type indicated to fabric articles such as are sent to laundries, dye-works, cleaners, and the like.

This invention consists in a machine for applying adhesive tabs (from a web) to fabric which machine comprises two cooperating pressure members to receive fabric and tab between them, means for heating the tab while between the pressure members, two web-clamping jaws, means for feeding the web of tabs one tab length at a time between the jaws when open, means for closing the jaws to grip the web at, or closely behind, the trailing edge of the leading tab, means for bringing the cooperating pressure members together to grip tab and fabric together and means for subsequently effecting relative movement between the pressure members and the jaws in a direction to stretch the web and thereby to tear the leading tab from the Web.

The pressure members may comprise two coaxial plungers of which one is axially movable to apply clamping pressure and the other is axially movable under resilient resistance under pressure from the first plunger thereby to effect the aforesaid relative movement between the pressure members and the jaws.

The invention includes the more specific form of such a machine in which the pressure plunger which is movable under resilient resistance is constrained for movement along a fixed axis and is provided with heatingmeans, while the other cooperating plunger is slidable axially in a frame or buck pivoted on an axis transverse to the plunger axis so that the buck can move to take the contact face of its plunger away from the pressure axis to facilitate application of a fabric article thereto.

In a preferred form of the invention a machine for applying adhesive tabs (from a web) to fabric comprises two cooperating pressure plungers 13 Claims. (Cl. 216-33) to receive fabric and tab between them, two webjaws which can be brought together or separated in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the pressure plungers. means for controlling the feeding of the web of tabs between the jaws when open, means for closing the jaws to grip the web at or close to the trailing edge of the leading tab, means firstly for bringing the cooperating pressure plungers together to grip tab and fabric between them in register with the edges of the jaws, and means secondly for effecting relative axial movement between the cooperating plungers and the said jaws to detach the leading tab from the web.

One or both of the cooperating plungers may be provided near its contact face with electric heating elements.

When a leading tab is fed out between the jaws it may be temporarily received on a pivoted shield or guard so that when a fabric article has been applied to the buck and brought into the pressure axis, the pivoted shield may be (automatically) swung out of the path of the plungers leaving the leading tab on the fabric.

The intermittent feed of the web (one tablength at a time), the closing and opening of the web jaws, the removal or re-introduction of the shield or guard and the two-stage operation of the pressure plungers may all be effected automatically and in proper timed relationship through a main shaft and a clutch the engagement of which is initiated by the operator.

A specific embodiment of a machine according to the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the machine,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the'machine,

Figure 3 is a front view, partly in section, showing the parts of the machine in the stop position ready for the buck to swing forward for insertion of a new garment,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 in Figures 1 and 7 also showing the parts in the stop position,

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 in Figure 4 with the buck swung out,

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 in Figure 4 also with the buck swung out and Figure '7 is a section on the line in Figure 4 but showing the parts at the end of the feeding of a tab.

The machine forming the subject of this example has a casing ll providing a main frame I2 with side walls I3, I30, a back wall I4, a front wall I5 and a partition I6.

The drive may take any convenient form (e. g. an electric motor attached to the casing) but conveniently comprises a chain drive from an external motor to a chain wheel on shaft I9 journailed in back plate I4 and carrying worm 2|] actuating worm-wheel 2| which (as described below) is coupled at appropriate times (by clutch 22 carried on the face of cam 23 engaging dogs 23a) to the main shaft 24 journalled in side walls I3.

The web of tabs 25 is carried on a supply reel 26 positioned in the compartment between the partition I6 and the side wall I3 and carried on a fixed axle 21 secured to the partition. A detachable cover 29 on the casingprovides access to the supply reel. The web 25 tensioned by a roller 23 carried on a spring-urged pivoted arm 59 is fed around pin-wheel 30, supported in fixed bearings in the partition and side wall I3. A roller 3| supported in hearings in a yoke I66 is urged downwardly by spring 32 to maintain the web in contact with the pin-wheel 30. The pinwheel and roller 3| pass the leading tab through between two horizontal tab-holding jaws, the upper jaw 33 fixed to front wall I5 and the lower jaw 34 being slightly movable vertically in guides on the front wall to open or close the jaws. The jaws 33 and 34 may have appropriate heat insulation and may be provided with gripping surfaces.

An important part of the machine lies in the cooperating pressure plungers whose functions are to press the leading tab on to a fabric article, to heat-seal them and to tear or detach the leading tab from the stationary part of the web. The upper plunger (having slightly convex contact face 4| at its lower end) is vertically movable through a short distance in guides 42 fixed to the front wall I5. The upper plunger 40 is normally pressed downwardly by strong helical spring 43. The downward movement of the plunger 40 is limited by collar 45 engaging the top of the easing. Behind the contact face 4|, inside the upper plunger 46, is an electric heating element not shown. This element may be of any convenient known suitable type and is preferably provided with a thermostatic control to limit the temperature reached by the contact face 4| to that required to seal the tabs (e. g. 340 F.). The electrical connection to the element may be made by means of a plug and socket situated at the upper end 48 of the plunger 40.

The lower plunger 50 has a concave contact face 5| at its upper end and is axially slidable in a frame or buck 52' which is pivoted at its lower end on a transverse axle 53 journalled in the cas ing so that the buck can swing forwardly towards the operator to receive a garment or fabric article (laid over the top of the buck 50 and particularly over the contact face 5|). The buck 50 has two handle bars 54 by which the buck may be swung towards and away from the operator and which in this example are slightly rotatable on their own axes in the buck against the return of springs I60. Each handle has a cam |5| adapted to abut against the front wall I5 and the arrangement is such that both handles must be rotated against their springs I50 to rotate the cams into the position shown in Figure 1 before the buck can be swung inwardly into operative position as shown in that figure; This ensures that both of the operator's hands are clear of the moving parts of the machine when it is put into operation.

The lower plunger 5|) at its lower part takes the form of a hollow sleeve 55 slotted at I55 embracing a cylindrical or rectangular piston 56 spring urged upwardly in relation to the p g by a spring I56 engaging a plug 51 in the lower end of the sleeve 55. A spring I58 urges the sleeve 55 downwardly. The sleeve 55 and pl g 50 are actuated (pressed upwards) by the forward end of two-part lever 60, secured to a rockin shaft 6| journalled in the side walls I3, I3a. A lever 60a also secured to the rocking shaft 6| carries a tappet roll 62 engaging a cam 63 on the main shaft 24 and the cam has two main positive functions. When the main shaft 24 rotates the cam 63 rocks the shaft 6| and levers 60, 68a to raise the plunger 50 (carrying the fabric) until the fabric meets the leading tab and thus the fabric and tab are together pressed against upper plunger face 4|. Then after a slight pause to allow the tab to become heated, the plunger 5!! makes a further short upward movement this time pushing up the upper plunger 40 against the action of the strong compression spring 43 and at the same time tearing the heated tab away from the standing part of the web 25 which is gripped between jaws 33 and 34.

To receive a leading tab when fed out between the jaws 33 and 34, to prevent buckling of said tab and to lay said leading tab smoothly on the fabric covering the contact face 5| of plunger 50 when raised, an arcuate shield 65 (on axle 66 pivoted in side wall I3 and partition I6) is held in the position shown in Figure 1, while said leading tab is being fed out; but as the plunger face 5| rises, the arcuate shield 65 is swung forward away from the axis of the plungers 40 and 50 through the intermediate position shown in Figure 7. The actuation of the shield 65 is effected by link 61, pivoted lever 68, tappet 69 and cam III on main shaft 24.

Before describing the timing gear, it will assist the description to specify the successive operations. Assuming the main shaft is at rest and the buck 52 free, the buck is swung outward into 7 a position convenient for the application of a fabric article over its upper end or at least over the contact face 5| of the plunger. Then the handles are rotated and the buck is swung into the upright position shown in Figures 1 and 7. The jaw 34 being down, the leading tab is fed out, then the jaw 34 is raised as the plunger 50 is raised, shield 65 swung away, fabric and tab pressed together with a light pressure, say 15 lb./in. against contact face 4| which is continuously heated. Then after a short dwell (say 3 seconds) the plunger 50 is pushed up a short distance applying a high pressure (say 70-90 1b./in. to fabric and tab: the tab is thus detached from the standing part of the web held in the jaws 33, 34. Thereafter all the parts are restored to their original positions (or freedoms) and the buck 52 is automatically swung outward again. Dealing with the mechanism, when the buck 52 F is pushed inwardly the quadrant II moves under the latch 12 until the latch falls into the notch 12a. This allows the rearward extension I3 of the latch I2 to rise slightly, thereby raising link I4 and rocking the two-part lever I5, 1512 which lifts the part 15a clear of the tail I6 of the clutch 22 and allows the clutch to make clutching engagement with teeth "attached to the worm wheel 2| and putting the main shaft 24 into rotation.

The main shaft 24 carries a wheel 62 having two teeth which engage the pinion 83 having eight teeth. This pinion 83 is geared through pinions 84 and 85 with pin-wheel 80 and feed roller 3| for the web of tabs. The pin-wheel 30 by its one quarter of a revolution feeds the web 25 forward by one tab-length out of the Jaws 33 and 34 immediately above shield 65. The current is switched on to the heating element at any appropriate time before use. By the rotation of shaft 24 the tappet roller 62 and levers 60, 60a raise the plunger 50 till contact face 5| presses the fabric and tab against upper plunger face 4| with a slight pressure and in proper timed relation the abutment 86 projecting back from plunger 50 and urged by the spring I58 picks up the movable jaw 54 and presses it upwards to grip the web 25 just at or closely behind the perforated trailing edge of the leading tab. The cam 63 is so shaped as to give a short dwell to contact face 5I While the heat-sealing of the tab to fabric takes place and then the cam 03 provides for the further slight (and rather quick) raising of contact face 5I, tearing off the tab and giving the final pressure between fabric and tab. This additionalraising of the contact face takes place relative to the jaw 34, the relative movement being permitted by the pin I51 sliding in the slot I55. After a very short interval .the plunger 50 is lowered, and the latch 12 is raised by the action of cam 81 engaging the surface 81a on the rearward extension 13 of the latch. The downward movement of the extension I3 lowers the arm 15a into the path of the tail I6 which knocks the clutch 22 out of engagement. The buck 52 is now free to swing outwards until the dog 52a engages the end of the base of the casing as shown in Figures 5 and 6. I

To prevent the possibility of feeding further tabs before a new fabric is put in position, a simple device is provided to stop operation of the machine after applying one label until the buck has been swung at least a short distance forward and returned. This device is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and comprises a, latch 95 pivoted at 96 to the quadrant II and spring-urged to the left as viewed in Figures 5 and 6. The latch 95 passes through a slot 91 (Figure 4) in the latch 12 during the inward movement of the buck until it abuts against the face 98 and is held against that face by the spring during the remainder of the inward movement of the buck. When the latch I2 is raised by the cam 81 at the end of each operation of the machine the latch 95 moves,

under the action of the spring, under the ledge 99 and prevents the latch 12 dropping into the notch IZa unless and until the latch 95 has been withdrawn from under the ledge by a substantial outward movement of the buck.

When it is desired to replace an empty tape reel 26 by a full one the cover 29 is removed and the arm 59 carrying the tensioning roller 28 is swung in the clockwise direction (Figure 7) by means of a handle I00 on the outside of the casing. It will be noted that the cover cannot be replaced until the handle has been returned to the operative position as shown. The brake lever IDI, which has a roller I02 engaging the tape on the reel and of which the purpose is to prevent over-running of the reel, is then lifted off the reel against the action of its spring IOIa and the reel is taken off the axle 21. A fresh reel may now be inserted and the brake roller allowed to fall on to the tape. The tape is then threaded over the roller 28 and the pin wheel 30 with the pins of the latter engaged by a transverse row of perfora.

V 6 tions in the tape marking the end of the leading tab. To facilitate the threading 01' the tape over the pin wheel the roller 3| may be lifted by rotation of a short handle I03 having a pin I04 which rides up the side of a depression I05 on the top of the casing. This lifts the bridge I06 and the roller 3|. The upward movement of the bridge lifts a hole I05 in the bridge out of register with a hole in the side plate I3 so that replacement of the cover 29 is prevented by a pin I0I carried by the cover; in this way warning is given if the bridge has not been lowered after replacement of the reel. v

As a precaution against .misplacement of the gear wheel 83 (e. g. during insertion of a tape reel) the latch 12 has an upward extension I12 ;which fits between adjacent teeth on the wheel without departing from the invention. For example, instead of tearing off the tab, a cutter or guillotine may detach it from the web (even though perforations are provided in the web for engagement by the pin wheel and registration purposes). One particular mechanism for starting and stopping has been shown but other devices may be substituted: for example, a solenoid may actuate the starting and/or stopping and the handle bars may control an electric switch. Alternatively, the starting may be by foot pedal, knee or elbow switches, thumb presses, photoelectric cells or by actual pressure of the fabric on a light starting lever. The invention includes a machine in which no swinging buck is used, 1. e. where the lower plunger moves only on a vertical axis and in that case the fabric or the like would be inserted immediately above the contact face of the lower plunger.

I claim: 4

1. A machine for applying adhesive tabs (from a web) to fabric, which machine comprises two co-axial pressure plungers to receive fabric and tab between them, twoweb-clamping jaws, means for feeding the web of tabs, one tab length at a. time between the jaws when open, means for closing the jaws to grip the web behind the trailing edge of the leading web, supporting means for one of the plungers arranged to permit axial movement of the plunger under resilient resistance, means for causing axial movement of the other plunger to bring the two plungers together to grip tab and fabric and subsequently to move the two plungers together against the aforesaid resilient resistance and while gripping tab and fabric thereby to tear the leading tab from the Web.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the pressure plunger which is movable under resilient resistance is constrained for movement along a fixed axis and is provided with heating means and which machine includes a frame pivoted on an axis transverse to the plunger axis and constituting supporting guides for the other plunger permitting axial movement of the plunger; the frame being movable about its pivotal axis to take the contact face of its plunger away from the pressure axis to facilitate application of a fabric to the contact face.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 and including an electric heating element within the plunger movable against resilientresistance and arranged to heat the operating face thereof.

4. A machine for applying adhesive tabs from a web to fabric which machine comprises two cooperating pressure members to receive fabric and tab between them, two web-clamping jaws, means for feeding the web of tabs one tab length at a time between the jaws when open, and into position between the pressure members, means for closing the jaws to grip the web closely behind the trailing edge of the leading tab, means for supporting the leading tab beyond the jaws, means for removing the tab support when the fabric is positioned between the pressure members for reception of the tab, means for bringing the pressure members together to grip tab and fabri together and means for subsequently effecting relative movement between the pressure members and the jaws in a direction to stretch the web and thereby to tear the leading tab from the web. 7

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4 in which the aforesaid tab support comprises a pivoted shield.

6. A machine for applying adhesive tabs from a web to fabric which machine comprises two co-operating co-axial pressure plungers to receive fabric and tab between them, means for heating one of the pressure plungers, a buck supporting the other pressure plunger and pivoted for movement about an axis transverse to the axis of the pressure plungers to move the plunger into and out of the common axis of the plungers, two webclamping jaws, means for feeding the web of tabs one tab length at a time between the jaws when open, means for closing the jaws to grip the Web behind the trailing edge of the leading tab and for subsequently re-opening the jaws, means for bringing the co-operatin pressure plungers together to grip tab and fabric together, means for effecting relative movement between the plungers and the jaws in a direction to stretch the web and thereby to tear the leading tab from the web, means for subsequently separating the plungers, driving means for operating in proper timed relationship the web feeding means, the jaw closing means, the two-stage operation and subsequent separation of the pressure plungers and control means for the driving means operable automatically to put the driving means into effect on movement of the buck to move the plunger into the common plunger axis.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6 in which the control means include a clutch which is engaged by the movement of the buck into the pressure axis.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 6 and including a pivoted shield for supporting the leading tab between the pressure plungers, and means operated by the driving means controlled as aforesaid for swinging the shield out of the path Of the plungers when the fabric is in position to leave the leading tab on the fabric.

9. A machine for applying adhesive tabs from a web to fabric which machine comprises two cooperating pressure members to receive fabric and tab between them, one of which members is a plunger arranged for axial movement towards and away from the other member to apply pressure to the fabric and tab, a carrier pivoted on an axis transverse to the plunger axis and carrying one of the pressure members, the carrier being movable about its pivotal axis to take the contact face of its pressure member away from the pressure axis to facilitate application of a fabric to the pressure face, means for heating the tab while between the pressure members, two web clamping jaws, means for feeding the web of tabs one tab length at a time between the jaws when open into position for application to the fabric by the pressure members, means for closing the jaws to grip the web behind the trailing edge of the leading tab, means for effecting axial movement of the plunger to bring the pressure members together to grip tab and fabric together and means for subsequently effecting relative movement between the pressure members and the jaws in a direction to stretch the web and thereby to tear the leading tab from the web.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 in which the axially movable plunger is carried by the carmen 11. A machine as claimed in claim 10 in which the other pressure member is provided with the heating means.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 9 in which one of the pressure members is resiliently supported in the direction of the application of pressure.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12 in which the means for effecting axial movement of the plunger are arranged to operate in two stages, firstly to apply one pressure and then a higher pressure with compression of the resilient supporting means.

CHARLES WILLIAM ADSHEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Malocsay Dec. 28, 1937 

